How 24 Persons Were Killed, Several Persons Injured, 200 Houses Destroyed In Plateau Few Hours To Buhari’s Visit

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Yakubu Busari

 

The Chairman of Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Plateau state chapter  ,Alh Muhammad Nuru Abdullah ,and the Locals Communities leaders in Plateau are now exchanging blame over the attacks that left at  least no fewer than 24  persons  reported massacred in Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau state in two days following  persistent attacks in some communities  around the Josho area of Daffo district, and Irigwe speaking natives .

 

The attackers who were suspected to be Fulani herdsmen arrived on Wednesday with the killing one instantly, wounding and shooting of four women at about midnight in Nghakudung village near Josho.

 

The locals have described the attack that persisted till Thursday morning and, worsened towards evening, spreading across villages sacking the locals who abandon their home as genocide.

 

However, before Friday morning, the death toll rises to five people as reported with over 2,000 people displaced from eight villages around the Josho area.

 

A head count on Friday at about 7 pm shows that; “No less than 18 people were killed in different locations within the area,” a local Chief, Sunday Akuns said.

 

Speaking to a Councilor from  Daffo Ward, Danjuma Mabas who housed over 10 displaced persons from the affected villages equally confirmed the figure, saying more people were still missing.

 

Spokesperson of the STF in Plateau State, Maj. Umar Adams had said the situation was under control.

 

Some of the survivors, however, said they haven’t seen much security presence in the community.

 

Gov. Simon Lalong had on Thursday told President Muhammad Buhari that his administration had succeeded in restoring peace and security in the State.

 

The latest attacks which resumed few hours to the President’s visit to the State have however sparked outraged in different quarters.

 

The Plateau State PDP Youth Vanguard for Grassroots Mobilization (PPYV4GM) for instance has slammed the Governor over his inability to speak truth to the President on the security situation in the state, calling him to resign.

 

According to a statement by its President, Mr. D’yong Mangut, the group regretted that while “innocent citizens were being killed at an alarming rate, the Governor continues to behave indifferently.”

 

“Since the coming on board of the current administration, conflicts have continued to plague certain parts of Riyom, Barkin Ladi

 

Meanwhile,the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeder ,Plateau state Chapter Chairman ,Alh Nuru Mohammed said, It is with total dismay and overwhelming shock that the Irigwe militias in an efforts to accomplish their mission of terrorizing Fulani herdsmen in Bassa LGA, have on Monday 5/3/2018 re-attacked Fulani cattle rearers and mercilessly killed 3 persons namely Abubakar Shehu, Abubakar Gidado and Ishaq Yusuf without any provocation.

 

It also disturbing and surprised that the Irigwe community always trespassed into other neighboring local government areas and launched their attacks and killed our people for no cause.

 

The Irigwe militias attacked and killed a total of 38 cows on 5/3/2018, 20 cows belonging to Wada Alh Audu, and 18 cows belonging to Umaru Ibrahim on the same date stated above.

 

The Irigwe militias usually cross carpeted into Riyom, Jos South and part of Southern Kuduna State to strick. In this particular incident, they operated from Rukwechungu village of Miango district in Bassa LGA into Gero village of Gyel district in Jos South LGA.

 

They also beat and wounded Haruna Zakariya, who is now receiving treatment in a nearby clinic (Rafin Bauna). It is on record that these militias groups have been unleashing terror attacks against our innocent cattle herders in the areas.

 

The approach of silent and systematic killings of Fulani herdsmen in the remote areas of Miango chiefdom is still alarming despite Government, security, communities, and other non-governmental organizations efforts of maintaining the fragile peace in the State.

 

Just to cite an example; Ishaq Abdullah was attack and killed in Agingi village of Bassa LGA, his body was recovered on 17th February 2018. On Sunday 13th February 2018, Muhammad Abubakar was declared missing who up till now his body have not been recovered.

 

Nuru also described it as unfortunate, while efforts are being made to restore peace and order, the silent killings of Fulani herdsmen by Irigwe militia continued unabated.

 

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria Plateau State Chapter appreciated the efforts of Plateau State Government and all the security apparatus on the ground. We, therefore, call on them to re-intensify efforts in finding a lasting solution.  Community leaders should work out modalities to compliment the effort of government and security agencies.

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